Reflections During a Difficult Time 7/13/16

      Tragedy tear-ing apart the fabric of the United States.

       African Amer-icans killed by police. Five officers mowed down by a retaliatory sniper shooting in Dallas, Texas. 

      The misfortunes continue.  Two bailiffs struck down in a court-house yesterday.  Further death by gunfire since.  Like gunsmoke, a gray cloud of disgust, despair, and astonishment hovers over the United States.

       Our response? 

      This place holds a treasure vault of gratitude. Kept with-in lies a hoard of op-timism.  Tonight, concern replaces thankfulness. 

      Today, appre-hension about the future pervades this inn of thanks.  Worry fills this inn regarding the survivability of humankind's love for each other and those different than us-- ethnically or religiously.

        We support our community when we offer God's love to one another.  We reflect His presence when showing compassion, not criticism.  

       This response preferable to criticizing the faults seen in others.  We demonstrate God's grace when patient towards those who differ from us. 

        God's presence breathes through us when showing kindness.  This especially true when we are gentle during stressful times.  As a community and nation, it's best to focus on what we have in common, the brotherhood shared, not our differences.

      It demands looking beyond the color of a person's skin or creed. We want God's grace reflected in our behavior.  Mouthing love with words does nothing.  

      Talk is cheap. Kindness enhances relationships, a better response than making critical assumptions when seeing differences in others.

      It's easy being kind when we have slept well.  It's simple, having patience when we are well-fed.  It's easy to maintain a good mood when enjoying financial ease.

       The test of character: our response when tired, and finan-cially stressed.  How we react to feelings-challenged circumstances reveals the true us.

Don't listen to a person's words.  Watch their actions.
It reveals an individual's true character. 

     Reflecting God's grace and gentleness dur-ing difficult times declares God lives.  Within us.  What makes this so?  

     Our nature is not pleasant when struck with catas-trophes.  Grace is not our natural reaction during disturbing times.  Hopefulness and optimism aren't our nature when life has a grim hold upon us.

      A positive, caring response demonstrates God incarnated--made flesh, in us---through our gracious, loving, patient behavior.  May His uplifting nature shine through us during tough times. 

      May this happen this week.  Today.   This hour.  When we live out God's presence, we give hope and strengthen humanity.

       

        Living this way takes place when having a living, breath-ing, dynamic relationship with the God of our understanding.

       We demonstrate God's nature--not ours--when loving others, especially the unlovable.  The world experiences healing when the sunshine of love towards others appears after tense, stormy, perilous times.  Times like now. 

       Our nation and world roil with tension.  We decompress the world when tolerating those who are different and detach with love, not amputation or violence, especially gun violence. 

      My prayer remains that God helps us focus on our commonality. May we---filled with God's patient, forbearing love---en-courage one another to love and good deeds.  May love for others flourish despite ethnic and religious differences and the tension felt while living in a world fraught with danger and ill-will.